320 .TELL-TALE TATLER. 



sides convex, the edges grooved longitudinally, the tip narrow. Nasal groove 

 long and narrow, extending to nearly half the length of the bill; nostrils 

 basal, linear, direct, pervious. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed, eyes large. Neck rather 

 long and slender. Body slender. Feet very long and slender; tibia bare 

 for half its length, scutellate before and behind; tarsus compressed, also 

 scutellate before and behind; hind toe very small and elevated; fore toes of 

 moderate length, very slender, connected at the base by webs, of which the 

 outer is larger; second or inner toe considerably shorter than fourth, which 

 is in a similar degree exceeded by the third; all covered with numerous 

 scutella above, flattened beneath, and marginate. Claws small, slightly 

 arched, much compressed, rather obtuse, that of the middle toe much larger, 

 with the inner edge dilated. 



Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short. Wings 

 long, narrow, pointed; primaries narrow and tapering, first longest, second a 

 little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries short, broad, incurved, 

 obliquely rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail short, doubly 

 emarginate in a slight degree, of twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill black, tinged with bluish-grey at the base. Iris dark brown. Feet 

 bright yellow, claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, lores, cheeks, 

 and the neck all round, excepting the throat, streaked with brownish-black, 

 on a white ground, tinged with grey on the head and hind neck; the throat, 

 breast, and abdomen, are pure white; the sides and lower tail-coverts barred 

 with brownish-black, as are the axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts; the 

 lower surface of the primaries light grey, their shafts white. The upper 

 parts generally are black, glossed with green, each feather margined with 

 white triangular spots. The hind part of the rump and the upper tail- 

 coverts white, barred with dusky. The anterior smaller wing-coverts, alula, 

 primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black, without spots; shaft of 

 first primary white, of the rest brown. Tail-feathers white, with numerous 

 bands of dark greyish-brown; the middle six feathers more or less of a light 

 brownish-grey toward the end, the bars not extending over their central part, 

 their tips white. 



Length to end of tail 14 inches, to end of wings 14, to end of claws 16; 

 extent of wings 24^; bill along the ridge 2 T 3 2, along the edge of the lower 

 mandible 2 T 5 2, wing from flexure 8 T 2 2-; tail 3^; bare part of tibia l-£-; tarsus 

 2 T S 2-; hind toe and claw j| ; middle toe and claw Iff. Weight 6 oz. 



Adult Female. 



The female resembles the male. 



Length to end of tail 13f, to end of wings 14|, to end of claws 17f; extent 

 of wings 25^. Weight 6j oz. 



